A couple of minutes before.
As I walked behind Yukino in the dark cave, holding onto my wrist, I was formulating a plan to get her to let go so I could rush towards the Nectarbind Fruit.
"Just give up your greed. You are just not destined to get it today nor in this expedition," Wraith said indifferently.
"Don't listen to him. Follow your heart and seize the things you wish to have. Only the sore losers would give up and not gamble their lives for the things they wish to have but can't," Greed said sincerely, while also sneering at Wraith.
"Are you calling me a sore loser? You? Whose strength was not even on par with mine!?" Wraith raged furiously.
"Isn't that why you are always mad? Because you always kept losing," Greed said indifferently.
"I WILL KILL YOU!!!!!!" Wraith raged furiously.
As I was thinking of ways to convince Yukino to let go of my wrist, these two arguing devils made it hard to think. As I could feel a strong throbbing in my mind, I knew that I had a headache due to Wraith shouting in my fragile mind.
Wraith, could you lower your volume! I am trying to think. Greed, stop taunting him.
I told them, trying to silence them so I could have a peaceful, calm mind and think of a way for Yukino to let go of my wrist so I could dash towards the Nectarbind fruit. Still, even if I dash, with her current strength, I would not be able to outspeed her, as she is a trained adult.
"I believe you forgot that you are now a four-year-old child," Pride said calmly.
What do you mean, I forgot? I always know I am a four-year-old child.
"Well, you are adapting to your four-year-old body, but not the mentality," Pride said calmly.
I wanted to refute that, but thinking about it, Pride was right. I am a four-year-old child right now, yet I do not act like it. Which means...
Realising what Pride had said had given me a realisation of my situation, and as I was being dragged by Yukino in the dark, I smiled.
Instead of trying to match my pacing with Yukino, I started making my pace slower, making it look like I was being dragged and not able to walk easily, with Yukino dragging me by my wrist.
"Aunt Yukino, could you let go of my wrist? It's kind of hard to walk, and it's quite painful," I complained softly.
"I will have to refuse, I am afraid that if I let go, you may rush back", Yukino replied calmly and coldly, as it feels like her voice was quite cold.
Hearing her response, I did not ask anymore. As I listened to the tone of her voice, though it sounded cold, I could sense that she was trying to do her best to ensure that I would not run into trouble, which I understood wholeheartedly. I could sense that she is concerned with my safety... which I am willing to make use of.
As we walked for a few steps after her refusal, I purposely tripped and fell onto the cold, hard and rough stone floors. As I fell to the ground, I sustained some injuries due to the rough stone floor, having my knee's skin peeled off and having some of my palm skin peeled too, causing some flesh to be exposed, and there was some bleeding due to the rough stone floor, but it quickly healed.
"Young master, are you alright?" Yukino asked calmly, a trace of worry could be felt in her voice.
"I am alright, it was just hard to catch up, that is all", I replied calmly, as I slowly stood up, as I did not have any of the injuries anymore.
"I see. I will not hold onto your wrist anymore. I am sorry for this," Yukino apologised sadly.
"It is fine..." I replied calmly.
Hearing her words, I knew the plan would work, though I could tell that she would not hold onto my wrist anymore, but I could still sense her distrust, despite the darkness in the cave.
As we continued walking, I could sense her glances, checking if I was still following behind. I simply just wait and wait, letting her be assured that I would not run back.
After a while, she stopped glancing back at me, as I could sense that she was assured that I would not run back for the fruit, though I did not let my guard down. I continued following till we saw light in the cave as we walked.
At that moment, I could tell that Yukino would not look back, and instead of walking forward, I slowly walked back, synchronising with their footsteps' sounds as I took a huge step back, timing my pacing properly.
I did not need to worry about bumping into a wall or anything in the cave, as I had fully memorised the layout when we walked in earlier and had confirmed the path again as we walked back now.
Then, I slowly let the mana in my body flow towards my leg and started dashing back into the cave. However, as I took every dash, the mana in my body was slowly depleting away. Still, thanks to the residue of the aura from the Ursus Terranus, slumbering and letting its strong aura flow out of its body, I could absorb the aura residue and purify it into mana in my body skilfully due to my body being used to purifying and condensing mana into my body. Allowing me to dash even more times than I could.
If I were to absorb the Ursus Terranus' aura and accept it into my body, my body would have rejected it like a virus entering a normal person's body, especially when my body is used to clean and neutral mana entering and flowing out of my body.
Due to my body being weak, every dash I took was destroying my leg muscles. Preventing me from exerting too much strength from it. Of course, I expected this to happen, as I had planned for this.
Sloth, I require your help.
"Already... activated... it..." Sloth said sloppily.
The mana in my body that was flowing towards my leg muscles was not only used for dashing, but it was also used for healing the leg muscles. As time passed, I could feel my mind feeling heavy, wanting to stop, but I resisted with my willpower.
Soon, I reached the huge space, though as I got closer, the aura that was being released was in a higher purity, which would be hard to purify. My body was even shaking under the tremendous pressure, making my brain signal me to run.
Still, I continue using mana in my legs to dash towards the huge lake while purifying the higher purity of the aura that the Ursus Terranus releases. As I dashed, I could feel my heart beating heavily and rapidly. I could also feel my lungs expanding heavily. Even though my throat felt dry as I was breathing heavily, I could feel the metallic sensation in my throat, but I still dashed towards the huge lake.
Once I reached the lake, I could tell that Yukino and Aurelia must have caught on to my own act by now. So I quickly jumped into the lake and swam to the centre of the island as fast as I could.
The aquatic animals in the huge lake that were swimming freely in the lake were startled by my arrival when I jumped into the lake, but I did not care and continued swimming. When I was picking the plants, I was also observing the aquatic animals in the huge lake, wondering if there were any predators.
The answer? Were there none, I could probably guess that the Ursus Terranus killed them, allowing the prey to reproduce and allowing the lake to be filled with an abundance of fish. Though the price is that they only have one predator, and that would be the huge Ursus Terranus.
"There may be some predator that might not have been caught, so best not to let your guard down," Pride advised firmly.
No worries, I am always on guard.
I kept swimming and swimming, though some lake water entered my lungs, which prevented me from breathing properly, but I continued to keep swimming. Soon, after I swam for who knows how long, I finally reached the huge land in the centre of the cave.
As I reached, I quickly vomited the water out of my lungs, but I did not stop. I turned around, and I could see Yukino panicking as she was slowly running down from the entrance of the cave to the huge lake. Aurelia and the wolf pup, Dawn, were at the entrance, which was understandable since Yukino was the strongest and also the fastest, so if any situation happened, it would be best if Yukino were the one to fetch me, and the others who were left at the entrance might not hinder if they were slow to run.
Seeing that, I slowly walked to the Nectarbind fruit. I did not rush because the Ursus Terranus was still slumbering, which was why I could only slowly walk and be careful not to make a huge sound, which also explains why Yukino did not shout at me, as she fears she might wake it up. As she was slowly running down from the entrance of the cave without using her aura.
If she had triggered her aura, the Ursus Terranus' senses may have perceived it as a threat, and it would have woken up to deal with it.
I calmly looked at the Nectarbind Fruit's tree, and calmly walked towards it. As I walked, I scanned around me for any herbs or plants that I would find useful, which I did.
Greed...
"I understand," Greed said calmly.
[Greed's Authority: Insatiable Greed]
[Greed's Authority: Eyes of Avarice]
Soon, my pale golden eyes glowed with a slight golden glow, making it look like my golden eyes were shining brightly like treasure, though it was only a slight glow.
The true treasure of the herbs and plants, their value, was radiating their golden glow to my eyes, showing their true worth.
The good thing about Eyes of Avarice is that I could see the quality and value of the things I see with it, though the worst thing is that, if I were in a treasure trove, it would blind my eyes with the golden glows radiating brightly. It would even make it hard for you to tell which plant is which, as they are all glowing golden, radiating brightly.
Years of experience in my original life of using it allow me to easily collect the plants that I require or want, or will need in the future.
Though when I used it, the Ursus Terranus made a grunting sound. Probably must have sensed that the mana of Eyes of Avarice and Insatiable Greed was being activated, but its senses probably did not detect any threat from it, so it did not wake up.
As I reached one of the plants I needed. With just a touch, the plants disappeared. Seeing that it disappeared, I walked to another and another, making them disappear one by one. Though there was a cost, and that was that my body felt like I was carrying the weight of the herbs that I had absorbed, which was the price of being able to store the things I wished, in return for bearing that weight throughout my entire body.
Of course, I was being careful as every time I approached, the Ursus Terranus would make a grunting sound, probably sensing something, but not a threat to it.
"It feels insulting to not be recognised as a threat", Pride remarked firmly.
"Better than it waking up and devouring us, making us lose all the gains", Greed replied indifferently.
"Good, if it wakes up, at least give it a blow before dying!" Wraith replied angrily.
"Dying as a virgin feels not worth..." Lust replied weakly.
"..." All the other devils were in disbelief at what Lust said.
After I collected the important plants that I wanted without triggering the Ursus Terranus from waking up, I slowly looked at the Nectarbind fruit.
Greed, how much do I have left?
"About 0.9 Kilograms left, the fruit right there is too heavy, so it would not be able to fit", Greed replied firmly.
I see.
I had Insatiable Greed deactivated, and only have Eye of Avarice remain activated as I looked at which Nectarbind Fruit has the most worth as I walked near it. After scanning each of the Nectarbind Fruit with my gaze, I found it, as it was at the highest point of the tree, which is truly my bad luck.
The Ursus Terranus that was near the tree could sense a presence nearby as I walked towards the tree.
Sensing what would happen, I slowly walked behind the tree that would block me from its vision. As I hid behind, I could see Yukino, who was near the giant lake, quickly lower to the ground, hiding in the garden of flowers. I could see her eyes were filled with fear as she lowered to the ground.
My body was shivering, as right now, I could feel a tremendous pressure, pouring down on me. This was the pressure of fear and the power of the master of this cave, who had just woken up.
My body was shaking heavily, sending signals to me that it was going to be the end of my life, but instead of being terrified, I simply smiled. If there were a mirror in front of me, I bet that I might look ridiculous in front of it.
I mean, what kind of madman would be smiling under the pressure of death rather than showing a terrified expression under it?
There might be others who would smile under the pressure of death rather than be terrified, but that is because it is either that they have accepted their fate and could simply smile till the bitter end, or simply they were already prepared to face such pressure, or they think that they have no fear at all and would smile upon such pressure as if it felt nothing to them.
"Then what one are you?" Pride asked calmly.
My mouth curled up into a bitter smile after hearing Pride's question regarding this.
Guess.
"A psychopath," Wraith replied mockingly.
"A Miser," Greed replied indifferently.
"A Idler and a Laggard," Sloth replied lazily.
"A Debauchee," Lust replied playfully.
"A resentful man," Envy replied bitterly.
"A Glutton," Gluttony replied hungrily.
Those are not even from the types that I listed...
"We know, we're just teasing you," Wraith replied mockingly.
The other devils, aside from Pride, laughed in my mind.
I hate you all...
"If I have to say, you are neither because you are the type that would smile under the pressure of death, and would wish to escape if possible, if it isn't possible, then you will make it possible. Regarding the type of character you are, you are a pitiful person, like me. Which is why I can understand and respect you the most. We are losers, both in the past and now. Which is why we are compatible..." Pride said firmly, but when he mentioned his last sentence, he spoke softly.
I smiled even more bitterly when I heard his words.
Yes, we are losers. Like both my original life and my current life right now, I will always be a loser.
Despite feeling the tremendous pressure of death from the Ursus Terranus, the mana I had in my body was filled. At that moment, Yukino, who was watching me, had her eyes widen in shock as what I was about to do was the most stupid and insane thing to do. Even the Ursus Terranus could sense something behind the tree.
I enveloped my body with mana and then turned around and jumped as high as possible, but because my body is still that of a kid, it could only jump a few meters high, but I simply did an somersault and once I had my leg landed on a tree, I quickly run on it with my mana in my legs, sticking to the tree like glue.
Yukino, who could roughly guess what I was going to do, used her icy-blue aura and simply dashed to the giant lake. With each step on the giant lake, the area where it lands creates an ice path on the giant lake, as she ran towards me.
The Ursus Terranus, which was slowly walking to the Nectarbind Fruit Tree, suddenly turned towards Yukino and wanted to roar, but before it could, it noticed a boy dashing onto the tree of the Nectarbind Fruit, which gave it a confused expression.
When I reached the top of the tree, I instantly tried to grab the Nectarbind Fruit. When I managed to grab it, I suddenly lifted my eyes away and saw the Ursus Terranus's black eyes. When our gaze met, my body screamed, screaming in fear when I looked into its eyes. Signalling that my death has come.
"From one to ten, how dead are you?" Wraith asked calmly.
Erm, Hundred? Because I may possibly be going to get eaten by it?
"Why would you go beyond the scale? The answer is ten, you dumbass," Wraith replied mockingly.
...
I wrapped my arm around the Nectarbind Fruit tightly and smiled bitterly at the confused Ursus Terranus, who was looking at me like I was a prey and also a thief for stealing a Nectarbind fruit from it.
After all, Ursus Terranus likes sweet, nutritious honey. However, unlike the Nectarbind Fruit, which I do not know why it was called Nectarbind Fruit in the book, as Nectarbind fruit was actually more of a honey than Nectar, but from what I heard, it was called that because the man who found it, did not know the difference between honey and nectar which is why he named it Nectarbind fruit, which is supposed to be Honeybind fruit but because it is not from a bee. It was also from its own flower, it was named as Nectarbind fruit, which makes sense, but also does not make sense. Anyway, the reason it likes it is that the fruit is like honey itself, and it provides the delicious protein from its flesh that was meant to cushion the fruit, which is why Ursus Terranus would love it, but Nectarbind Fruit are incredibly rare, and it's very expensive, from what I read.
But the nutrients it has are unreal, like it was made from a god or something, which is why I am here for it. I concentrated all my mana onto my leg muscles and then jumped from the tree with all my might as the Ursus Terranus moved its mouth towards me.
"Sorry, I am not your today's meal, nor any of my people are even your meal today" I smiled bitterly as I said crazily when I flew away from the tree.
The Ursus Terranus, knowing that it failed to eat me, roared in anger. Its roar was filled with its aura that could kill me, but luckily, as I fell, Yukino caught me and shielded me from the aura roar that could have killed me as she shielded herself and me with her icy-blue aura.
Although she shielded me, I vomited out blood while still hugging the Nectarbind fruit as my life depended on it. Unknown to us, Aurelia also vomited blood as she also knew what would happen, as she also focused on shielding herself and the wolf pup with her colourless, formless aura. Though unlike our situation, Aurelia's formless aura could not withstand, and the wolf pup that was being protected also vomited out blood, and the two of them lost consciousness.
Although mine is not as good as theirs, as well, since we are closer to the Ursus Terranus than they are, the damage we received should have been higher but I can tell Yukino focus more on me than herself, as she also vomited blood that I did not notice earlier. Yukino instantly readied herself and dashed on the ice platforms she had made, back towards the cave entrance with a firm and focused gaze.
Not going to lie, the roar of the Ursus Terranus was quite strong. It was so strong that the entire lake was filled with dead fish floating up onto the surface. Man, I wish I had that strength right now...
Yukino was sprinting her all her might. I could hear her panting for breath as she held me tightly while I held the Nectarbind fruit tightly in my arm and looked behind her back as I looked at the Ursus Terranus that was looking at us, started moving.
With Yukino's speed, I think we would survive and escape.HAHAHAHAHA, Too bad, you fat Ursus Terranus.
"My Lord, I think you may have forgotten, but do not underestimate your opponent," Pride said firmly.
What do you mean, it can't even-
As I wanted to reply, I saw the Ursus Terranus was slowly becoming bigger. That the twenty-meter sizing was slowly increasing...
I think I know what type of breathing form this Ursus Terranus is currently using...
The Ursus Terranus's size had slowly expanded bigger and bigger, slowly reaching thirty meters, but it is still expanding.
OH DEAR HELL, It looks like I am going to see you all again if I do not escape this... LIKE WHY IS THAT FAT BEAR BREATHING FORM HAD TO BE A TANK CLASS BREATHING FORM?! LIKE WHAT THE HELLLLLLLLL!!!!!!
"From one to a hundred, how dead are we..." Wraith asked in astonishment.
Hundred... Definitely a Hundred...
"No... It is a thousand times dead we are..." Wraith replied softly.
Yeah... I agree...
"At least tried to refuse it to make it interesting..." Wraith replied softly.
Sorry, busy in this situation to even care.
Yukino, who could see a huge shadow in front of her expanding, slowly tilted her head to her back, and her eyes shrank, and at that moment, she faced back at the front and dashed with all her might.
We could even hear and feel the ground being shaken by the Ursus Terranus as it slowly chases us. Although Yukino was running as fast as possible, as the one who could see behind, I could only say one thing as it chased us, causing the ground to shake and the ice path to slowly get destroyed under the tremendous pressure from the ground shaking.
AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Stop internally screaming! It is hurting my brain!" Wraith complained angrily.
Oh, now you know how I feel.
Yukino, who was running as fast as possible, gritted her teeth while carrying me and leapt from one ice to another as the ice path that she had created was all destroyed and floating everywhere among the dead fish in the giant lake.
Soon, the Ursus Terranus rushed into the huge lake, which caused an enormous wave to come after us. The waves had lots of dead fish that were being pushed with them, along with the ice path behind us. Seeing it, I had my mouth open wide.
Okay, isn't that a bit too much? Where's the balance? WHEEEREEEE THHHHEEE BALLAANNCCEEE!!!!!! Isn't this the stupid game where it values love, friendship, comradeship or whatever shit it was! SO WHERE'S THE BALANCE FOR THIS!!!!!!
"Reality is often disappointing..." Envy said weakly.
I screamed internally as Yukino was leaping from one separated ice path to another. Knowing that the Ursus Terranus was coming behind us, along with a huge wave, there was only one thing I could do.
"Aunt Yukino", I said calmly.
"What is it, young master?" Yukino said in a rush as she panted for breath.
"Could you hold this fruit? Hold it. Do not let go or throw it away. Please," I asked calmly.
Yukino, who was busy running and leaping from one ice path to another, was dumbfounded by my request. Just when she wished to reject, thinking it was nonsense, she saw my eyes that were firm and serious.
"Alright", Yukino grabbed the Nectarbind Fruit with her other hand and continued running and leaping.
The mana in my body is filled, though that is just going to be used for my body recovery rather than what I am going to plan to do.
Sloth!
"I hate this jobbbbbb," Sloth complained loudly.
I slowly move my hands towards the growing Ursus Terranus. Looking at it, chasing us with a huge wave of dead fish that are being swept up with it. I used the mana in my body to wrap around my heart as I slowly opened my mouth and chanted a word.
"H...!" I chanted calmly in an unknown language.
But just as I tried to chant, my throat felt sore as if I had not drunk any water for years. I vomited a bit of blood from my mouth, and some blood was slowly flowing out through my nose, and even some was flowing out from my eyes. The veins in my hands, I could feel that they had exploded when I tried to chant that my hands were now covered with blood.
Yukino, who was carrying me, was shocked by the sudden blood coming out of my mouth, nose, eyes and hands.
Though despite all these, the aura residue in the surrounding was slowly gathering around the Ursus Terranus.
But thanks to Sloth's Authority, my body's mana was slowly depleting, into healing my body that is still alive, due to protecting my heart. Though even as my body was healing, I did not stop.
"A...!" I continued calmly in an unknown language.
At that moment, more blood continued to flow out of my body. The skin of my body soon became pale like a corpse, as if blood was being drained out of my body. I felt like my mind became clouded as I could not think clearly.
When I continued, the aura residue in the surrounding that was slowly gathering around the Ursus Terranus was slowly slowing it down, but it still was not enough, as the Ursus Terranus was stronger.
Yukino, who I believe to be a knight level, slowly noticed what was happening as her senses could understand the situation, but still continued running as she was going to reach the outer land around the giant lake.
"L...!" I continued calmly in an unknown language again.
Though this time, the price was much higher than the second letter. As more blood flows out of my body. My mind became even more clouded as I could not think anymore. My heart, which I have been protecting, beat heavily for a moment and soon beat very softly as if it were weak right now. I could barely breathe for oxygen through my nose, and I could barely speak as it felt like my throat was choked by a firm hand that was trying to prevent me from speaking. The sensation in my arm instantly felt numb as if I had no arm.
"Young master!" Yukino shouted in shock as she had reached the outer land around the giant lake, but could not stop running to the cave entrance as the Ursus Terranus was still chasing after us.
The Ursus Terranus that was chasing us tried to open its mouth, but it could not slowly open its own mouth as it felt the entire space, no, the entire mana and its own aura in the air was holding it in its place, trying to stop it from whatever it was trying to do. Still, the Ursus Terranus' strength was stronger as it managed to open its mouth slowly and still chased after us.
Knowing that we are reaching the cave entrance soon, I did not let my guard down as I prepared myself to say the last letter to the word as I tried to continue.
"Isn't this enough already?" Wraith said calmly, knowing what would happen once I said it.
"I agree, continuing it would be too much!" Lust replied with a worried tone.
I could not hear their words properly, and their words gave me a headache from just this conversation.
Not... Yet...
My mind was too clouded to even reply to them properly, and I could only reply to them with these few words as I tried to say the last alphabet to the word I was finishing.
I focus all the mana in my body to concentrate on one area, which is my heart only. Protecting it with all my effort from what I was going to do next, as I know the price would be too heavy and would require me to prepare at least this much.
"T..." I finished calmly, though it was so soft that it could not be heard unless one focused on their sense in trying to hear the last letter.
Despite that, the mana and the aura in the air obeyed the completed word and focused on stopping the Ursus Terranus in its place. The Ursus Terranus, which was now fifty meters in size now could not move and could only glare at its prey running away with one of its food.
After that, my mind went completely blank, and I lost my consciousness as I closed my eyes instantly. I did not know what happened next, but I hope we will survive this...
-
A few minutes ago.
In a massive mountain near the Destenebres Mansion, there was a vast chamber inside. It featured towering pillars made of gold on both sides, supporting the ceiling above. A long red carpet, seemingly crafted from the finest silk, led directly to a grand throne at the end of the room. In a massive mountain near the Destenebres Mansion, there was a vast chamber inside. It featured towering pillars made of gold on both sides, supporting the ceiling above. A long red carpet, seemingly crafted from the finest silk, led directly to a grand throne at the end of the room.
There were many young adult women and men who had a strong presence who looked like around their twenties, thirties or even forties, standing guard near the throne, as if they were mere servants. They were the elders of the Destenebres' Family. Though it was not all of them, it looked like they had just taken their duty as guards temporarily for the day. Some have black hair, though some have other colours such as silver-white, red, brown, and many others. Still, they all have golden eyes, but they do not look quite bright, though they are not as pale as Ragnar's eyes.
On a grand throne, there was a beautiful woman who was sitting on it like it was just a chair rather than a throne. She was wearing a beautiful black dress, and she had long, beautiful black hair that looked like her hair was made of obsidian. Her eyes were golden, which looked like it was true gold. If there was a noticeable trait about her, it would be that her eyes' pupils were more of a reptile than human. She was having a bored expression as she sat on her throne, and she grabbed and ate a juicy grape from a table made of pure gold beside her throne. Soon, her expression changed to surprised expression as she sensed something.
"Huh..." She said in a surprised tone.
She looked around in the huge chamber, feeling something was odd. Like her sense was telling her that someone just controlled, no, commanded nature itself.
'What just happened? Did father come? Or was it the other princesses? No, this one felt weak... what is going on?' the woman thought to herself with a worried expression.
She turned to one of the elders and asked with a tone of authority.
"Was there any announced visits or any unannounced visits from my father or any other princesses?" she asked with a tone of authority.
"I greet your grace, regarding your question. There has been no announcement or news regarding any of them." A male elder, who looked around forty, answered calmly as he turned around and knelt to pay his respect and answered the question of the woman he was facing.
"I see, I have no further questions," the woman said in a bored tone as she adjusted her sitting position on the throne, as she was disappointed in the answer.
The elder who heard that nodded his head and had a worried expression as he understood that the woman was disappointed in his answer.
"Your grace, if you wish. I can go out and check if you wish," the elder said calmly, but everyone knew he was frightened as he did not wish to disappoint the woman.
"No need, just focus on your duty", the woman shrugged as if she could not be bothered.
"Yes, Your Grace!" the elder said loudly as he followed the woman's order.
The elder stood up and positioned his body in the direction he was facing, and remained calm outside as if what had just happened had not happened at all. Though he was calm, he was disappointed in himself for not being able to assist the woman with her question.
The woman looked at the ceiling with a disappointed and bored expression.
'If it's probably none of them, who could it be... who could understand our language of royalty?' the woman thought as she gazed at the ceiling.
-
In a forest far away.
The two dark wolves with a red outline glow were sniffing with their noses towards the ground as they tried to find traces of a sunchaser wolf pup that they had been ordered to find, but they could not find any scent of a sunchaser wolf pup. Suddenly stopped and looked towards a huge mountain in a far distance, feeling something abnormal. The two dark wolves exchanged glances and galloped toward the massive mountain, sensing that their target was there.
-
Outside the mountain's cave entrance, Yukino was panting for breath as she barely managed to escape from the Ursus Terranus, but the situation was not good, as when Ragnar said something softly, the Ursus Terranus could not move for a while, which allowed her to escape, but in return, the boy was barely alive as he was covered by his own blood. When Yukino checked the boy's barely alive state, she checked for his heartbeat, which was beating faintly, like it was currently weak, which filled her with nothing but worries.
Currently, roars could be heard from the cave entrance from an enraged Ursus Terranus, not able to chase after its prey and mad that it did not eat them, was heard loudly.
Right now, it was just her and an unconscious boy, Ragnar, who had broken arms, had rough and weak breathing, and whose heartbeat was very faint. Aurelia and the wolf pup went to find firewood and possibly food for the night, as it was getting late soon, and the sun was about to set. Yukino was very worried about the boy she was entrusted to protect for this expedition.
Although the boy had disregarded her words not to go back, which ended up in this situation, for a stupid fruit that she has no idea why the boy would risk his life to get it, despite probably knowing it was for something important that he needed, which would boost his growth to catch up to children his age who have talents, it makes her worried.
She could not understand why, probably because he was still immature, that he wanted it, not knowing the consequences of his action.
'Once we get back to the manor, I should probably be stricter in teaching the young master. It feels like the young master has been getting rebellious, and I am afraid that in the future, the young master may cause trouble. I am worried... maybe because we have not been taking care of or have not been watching over him well... after all, the young master is the only child in the manor. So it is probably my fault for not being able to play with him or assist him... as he might probably feel lonely. Cesline has also been acting weird since the day that both of them came back from Young Lady Lyraena's birthday party at the mansion.' Yukino reflected her own thoughts with a serious expression.
"I am back", Aurelia said calmly as she carried lots of tree branches that were dried and good for firewood, and in her other hand were four dead rabbits. Though Dawn was carrying two dead rabbits in its mouth.
Seeing that, Yukino was impressed when Aurelia and Dawn managed to hunt seven rabbits. They must have found them in a burrow that was filled with seven rabbits for the winter, probably thanks to Dawn's hunting instinct.
Yukino helped skin the rabbits for their meat while Aurelia set up the campfire. Soon, the two of them set up the tent for the night. After that, they used a pot and gathered snow in it and melted it to make water, which Yukino used a towel to absorb the water and use it to clean Ragnar's bloodied body. Dawn was lying next to Ragnar, worried about the boy who had been cleaned up after Yukino cleaned away the blood from the boy's body, but the clothes still contained blood, which may pose a risk since this is a forest with many predators.
Aurelia gathered the rabbits' meat and slotted them onto a few sticks, and put them at the campfire to cook them. Yukino, who was worried about Ragnar, was thinking about how to feed him as he was unconscious. As she was watching him, she suddenly saw that the boy's injured state was slowly regenerating, as the boy's body muscle was slowly growing its muscle to reattach to one another, regenerating back to the boy's original state before he got injured. Soon, the boy's breathing, which was weak and getting weaker, was slowly getting stronger and soon stabilised at a normal pace.
Yukino moved her head to the boy's chest, trying to hear his heartbeat, which was faint, soon started rapidly, and soon stabilised its beating. Hearing it, Yukino had a surprised and shocked expression after that, as she could not understand what was happening.
Aurelia, who glanced at Yukino's expression, also asked in concern.
"Is the young master alright?" Aurelia asked with concern.
Yukino, who heard the question, turned her head to Aurelia with a shocked expression, not because of Aurelia's question but because she was still shocked at what was happening.
"Rather than alright... The young master's body is completely fine, as if he were healthy right now... His arms, which looked like they were smashed, were healed just a moment ago. Even at first, when the young master was breathing roughly and weakly was suddenly able to breathe easily. Even his heartbeat, which was faint, soon stabilised back to normal." Yukino explained while carrying her shocked expression.
Aurelia, who was listening to her, could not believe Yukino's explanation and walked towards Ragnar's body, and then her eyes widened in surprise as the boy's health was now safe, but it also left her with questions on how it was possible. The boy was close to death, and yet now he is a healthy boy who looks like he did not go through what had happened today.
Before they could question it, they heard growlings from the forest, which soon revealed itself as two dark shadow wolves, enveloped in a red glow around their body as their outline, with their eyes also shining bright red. Their bodies emitted a black mist, and each had two small horns on their foreheads. They were looking at one target, which was the sunchaser wolf pup, Dawn.